Gizmodo: Dsl

Verizon Offers Discount Bundle to Those Who Don't Want a Landline

Sean Fallon — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:20:00 EDT

There are few reasons to maintain a landline phone these days, which is why Verizon will offer an $8 to $12 discount per month to landline-free wireless customers who sign on for internet or TV service with their new Flex Double Play bundle. Wireless customers that tack on DSL service with downloads at 3 Mbps and FiOS at up to 20 Mbps are eligible for the discount. Futhermore, adding FiOS TV to the package increases the savings by another $8 per month. The plan is set to roll out next week. [Eagle Herald]

Are You Getting Screwed? Quick-Glance ISP Pricing Chart

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:15:48 EDT

Electronic House has done some serious homework, compiling price, bandwidth and plan information from most US ISPs, from sluggy dial-up to hyperspeedy fiber. (I couldn't spot Cablevision, but there were others I hadn't even heard of.) Due to cable build-out and the territorial nature of phone companies, you can't do as much comparison shopping as the charts would suggest. And man, wouldn't I love it if it were a sortable database where I could see all my options by region? Wishlist aside, though, it's a very helpful resource for, say, figuring out if you're getting screwed by an older monthly rate. I, myself, will be making a customer-service call shortly. [EH]

Dems Launch Net Neutrality Bill, GOP Says "Hands Off the Poor ISPs!"

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Yesterday on Capitol Hill, two Democratic representatives introduced a House bill that would require broadband ISPs to "interconnect with the facilities of other network providers on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis." It also requires them to treat all content, applications and services as the same, with "equal opportunity to reach consumers," says an IDG story in the New York Times. Any ISPs who start messing around with packets could be subject to antitrust enforcement. Republicans weren't so happy with the bill.

The Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act is sponsored by Michigan Democratic Representative John Conyers (who happens to be chairman of the House Judiciary Committee) along with Silicon Valley Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren. Conyers' premise:

"The Internet was designed without centralized control, without gatekeepers for content and services. If we allow companies with monopoly or duopoly power to control how the Internet operates, network providers could have the power to choose what content is available."

It seems like one of those standup routines: Democrats are like "Lalalala" while Republicans are like "Grrrrrrr." In this case, the "Grrrrrrr" comes from the bill's apparent threat to investment in ISPs. Yes, I cry for you, poor downtrodden multibillion-dollar multinationals with borderline monopoly arrangements for persistent and constantly increasing revenues.

The opponents specifically argue that new competition in broadband networks is what keeps ISPs honest in their dealings with consumers. Michigan Republican Representative Fred Upton is quoted as saying, "Our hands-off policy is working." From what we've seen there, Fred, you are either all wrong, mostly wrong or at least partially wrong. [IDG in NY Times via Slashdot]

5 Things to Know: T-Mobile's Hotspot @Home Landline VOIP Service

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:20:17 EDT

A few weeks back, T-Mobile rolled out a new broadband-based landline-replacement service in Dallas and Seattle test markets, allowing customers to port their landlines to their T-Mobile account then pay $10 per month for unlimited calling via a special router. Here's a glimpse of the router, a modified Linksys, with Ethernet jacks and two phone jacks, plus internal slots for two SIM cards. It's a good deal, and will be cool for many people when it rolls out this summer, but there are things you need to know:

• SIMs used for landlines can't—or rather shouldn't—be used in cellphones, since they may not work, and if they do work they will rack up a la carte charges.

• The reverse is also true: you can't use your cellphone SIM in an @Home router because it won't have the appropriate E911 information, and won't be configured correctly. (The second SIM slot and jack are for a second line, but not your cellphone as originally suspected.)

• People who have a landline just for their fax will be sad to hear, faxes are not compatible with the @Home landline service at this time. Engineers are working on it, but for now it's not an option.

• You need to be spending at least $40 per month to add on the $10-per-month landline replacement.

• One wonders what a DSL provider might think of this setup. If memory serves, some DSL providers require you to pay for landline service anyway, so check with your broadband provider before switching—you may even be able to strike a deal.

Stay tuned for the national rollout, and actual product tests, in the late spring or summer. [T-Mobile Hotspot @Home]

Question of the Day: Cable or DSL

Jason Chen — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:00:21 EST

A lot of you read us at work, which is fantastic, but we want to know what kind of pipe you use to read us at home. Are you on some kind of package deal with your cable provider, or are you sucking down bits through your telephone jack. We're assuming that none of our readers have dial-up access here, because that's just shameful. Here's the poll:

Some Broadband Speeds Slower than Advertised - How Is Yours?

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:30:05 EDT

In a fresh UK poll taken by 3,000 readers of Computeractive magazine, 62% reported that their broadband performed at less than half of their provider's advertised speed. Do you find this to be the case, or are you perfectly happy—or even pleasantly surprised—by your broadband performance? [BBC News]

FYI: Kazakhstani Internet Starting At The Low, Low Price Of $3,350...Per Month.

Adrian Covert — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:59:04 EDT

Yes, you read that right. In Borat's beloved homeland of Kazakhstan, the national internet service provider is charging $3,350 per month for DSL service. If you're ever in Kazakhstan and that seems a little pricey, dial-up is availible for $111 per month. If you need more speed, you can go all out and pay $22,032 for a 6Mbps cable connection. Rest assured that Borat has the 6Mbps connection while Nursultan Tulyakbay only has the dial-up...because he's still asshole. [Ars Technica]

$10-Per-Month DSL From AT&T

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:40:00 EDT

It seems Uncle Sam is looking out for those of you in AT&T's 22-state landline service area. If you have never been a customer of AT&T or BellSouth broadband, you are entitled to an unadvertised $10-per-month DSL service.

The deal is part of a concession with the FCC—AT&T had to agree to offer it for two and a half years when it bought BellSouth. The bandwidth isn't super sweet, at 768Kbps downstream and just 128Kbps upstream, so not a whole lot of juice for gaming, but the price is equal to dial-up and can blow that away.

I will warn you, the link on AT&T's website is hard to find. As best as I can tell, you have to go through this availability checker, and even then you have to wade past other nice-but-not-as-nice offers. You can also try to swing it by calling AT&T directly. To lock down $10-a-month DSL, it might be worth the annoyance. – Wilson Rothman

AT&T quietly introduces $10 DSL plan, part of BellSouth merger concessions [SiliconValley.com]

$2.60/Day MacBook With High Speed Access

Mark Wilson — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:35:02 EST

Telecom company Orange is teaming up with Apple for a unique offer. For 2 euros a day, or about $2.60 in overworked American dollars, French consumers can get a MacBook with 1 Mbps DSL.

Is this a good idea? I'm not sure. If we were talking about a MacBook Pro and/or a wireless standard, my ears would be perked. But DSL is available in many markets for $20/month. And I'm guessing you could finance a suped-up MB an match this offer, eventually walking away with something you own. What do you think? – Mark Wilson

Apple Makes Deal With Orange [theinquirer]
Photo By Jared Benedict

Netgear DG834N 802.11n ADSL2+ Modem Router

Jason Chen — Mon, 22 May 2006 19:30:36 EDT

We have to hand it to Netgear. When they say they're going to support something, say the 802.11n draft, they really support it. Never mind the ~~bollocks~~ difficulties, they're releasing the first draft 802.11n-compliant ADSL2+ Modem Router whether people ratify the standard or not.

With an ADSL 2+ mode, a router, a four-port 10/100 switch, a firewall and of course, draft 802.11n support, this device eliminates the need to have both a modem and a router to connect to your DSL service.

Press Release [Netgear]

Verizon's One Phone To Rule Them All!

gizmodo.com — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 14:30:38 EDT

Verizon has come out with the one phone to rule them all! No, seriously, the "One Phone" from Verizon is designed to have all of your equipment built in so that you need not worry about having a seperate router, modem, phone and hobbit who travels to the land of Mordor. There isn't any VoIP function, which would have been a very nice touch, but it doesn't fall short in the features department. In one box you get a high speed DSL modem, a wireless 802.11g router, and a 5.8GHz cordless telephone with a touchscreen display for accessing news, weather, sports, Verizon's Superpages and the Evil Eye of Sauron. You can even add your own personal photos as a screen saver or background. You'll have to shell out $150.00 for the One Phone, but something tells me if you keep mentioning Vonage and Comcast while you order, they'll cut you a break. Full Specs after the jump (and no more Lord of the Rings jokes, I promise).

Verizon One Phone [Mobile Whack via GearLive]

Features are as follows:

Cordless Telephone

Symmetrical 5.8 GHz DSS Cordless Telephone with 75 Hopping Channels for enhanced operation under interference
Full Duplex, Hands-free Speaker/Microphone
Control Buttons such as Speed Dial, Redial, Flash, Hold, Mute, Intercom and Volume Control
Message Waiting/Ringing LED indicator
Internally filtered Convenience/Fax Jack - enabling the connection of other telephony equipment directly to Verizon One
Intercom Page to either the base unit or handset
Integrated Handset Cradle with Battery Charger
Ear Plug Adapter on handset for Headset Connection (optional headset not included)
Cordless Handset Belt Clip for hands-free operation when using a headset (optional headset not included)
Caller ID and Call Waiting with Caller ID*
Wall Mountable Base Unit
Home Networking Gateway (Combination DSL Modem, Wired and Wireless Router)

Wired Router: 4-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Wireless Router: 802.11 b/g/g+ with WEP, WPA, 1.0-PSK Security Features
Support of up to 253 Users
LED Indicator Display for operational status of networking functions
NAT, DHCP, DNS
Integrated Packet Filtering Firewall
Color Touch-Screen Display

Illuminated, Color LCD Touch-screen Display allowing access to Verizon One's Advanced Software Features
Plastic Stylus - detachable pen-like tool for selecting items on the touch-screen
Verizon One Advanced Software Features

Call Management
Online Directory Assistance
Weather, News and Sports Headlines, Movie Listings, Sports Scores, Horoscopes and Restaurants
Address Book and Calendar
Memo Pad
Customizable Settings for Screen Savers, Backgrounds and Ring Tones

Verizon One is the simplicity of a telephone combined with the richness of the Internet. Loaded with a 5.8 GHz cordless telephone, high-speed DSL modem and 802.11g wireless router, Verizon One is your all-in-one information touch-point.

Check news headlines, sports scores, stock quotes and daily horoscopes
Find local weather, restaurants, movie listings and show times
Leave colorful notes for household members with the freestyle memo pad
Access and manage your household address book and calendar
Locate listings and call direct from Verizon SuperPages (maps/directions)
Personalize background images and screen savers with your personal photos
And the list goes on ...